Yesterday as I was finalizing my grocery list my dear husband informed me it was “The Day of the Donut”. He said it with awe and longing. I was feeling rushed and told him to go to Dunkins if he wanted a damn donut. As I shopped, I was hit by a wave of remorse. I visited the pastry case and spied classic glazed donuts (alas no Krispy Kremes). I wanted something springy and fruity, the man wanted donuts. I decided to marry the two. Here we have a glazed donut, a lemony marscapone filling, berries marinated in a bit of sugar and Grand Marnier, and whipped cream. It’s a shortcake for the donut enthusiast. The hubby smiled and told me I am the best wife ever. Who could ask for more?
Cake Robed In Chocolate And Strawberries June 17, 2007
Like so many women, there are days when my desire for chocolate is nearly overwhelming. However, perhaps because I am a tad high maintenance, my cravings are not satisfied by a mere candy bar. When I crave chocolate I want something rich, decadent, and freshly baked, I want chocolate cake.
When one of these cravings coincided with finding the first of the year’s native strawberries I decided to combine the two, the result was the cake you see above. I made a chocolate cake from my personal culinary bible, The Joy of Cooking. I joined the two layers with a chocolate frosting and then spread a layer of frosting on the top of the cake. On top of that, I arranged blanket of fresh strawberry slices. Finally, I consulted the bible again for directions for my first attempt at a chocolate ganache. The ganache came out a bit more watery than I was hoping for, but the end result was actually pretty interesting, a rich chocolate glaze that revealed the strawberries. The result? Chocolate craving quenched.

